Apparatus and method for cleaning microsurgical instruments

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus for microsurgical instruments has a flush chamber closed off at one end by a first plug adapted to liquid-tightly grip one end of the instrument, allowing a portion of the instrument to extend past the first plug and out of the flush chamber. The other end of the flush chamber is closed off by a second plug having an inlet port. Liquid injected through the inlet port on the second plug passes through an internal passageway formed in the instrument and exits the instrument through the portion that extends past the first plug. In another embodiment the instrument has an internal passageway and an end cap through which flushing ports are formed which communicate with the passageway. A first plug having an inlet port is liquid-tightly attached to the end cap and liquid injected into the first plug passes through the plug, through the flushing ports and through the passageway to clean detritus from the instrument.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/739,003, filed Jan. 11, 2013, which is a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/534,573, filed Sep. 22, 2006, and claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/783,681,filed Mar. 18, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/725,518, filed Oct. 11, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/722,532, filed Oct. 1, 2005, all of which are entitled,“Apparatus and Method for Cleaning Microsurgical Instruments”, and allof which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to microsurgical instrumentsand, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for cleaning suchinstruments prior to sterilization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sterilization of surgical instruments and apparatus is an absolutelyessential step in the performance of successful surgeries. Wheresurgical instruments such as knives, scalpels and the like are used,sterilization is facilitated by the fact that such instruments have nomoving parts, leaving all operative surfaces exposed to sterilizingsolutions and sterilizing steam or other heated gases.

Ophthlamological surgical techniques involve the use of extremely smallinstruments commonly referred to as “microsurgical instruments.” Many ofthese instruments not only have moving parts, but have parts that areplaced within tubes or other channels. One example of such an instrumentis known as a cartridge injector, an instrument used to accept acartridge within which an intraocular lens (IOL) is folded and placed. Aplunger in the injector is then moved through a channel to extend aplunger tip which contacts the lens and forces it through an opening atthe end of a cartridge and into an incision formed in the eye.

Another commonly used microsurgical instrument is a microforceps. Inthis instrument, a pair of opposed surgical steel “strips” extend from ahollow tube. The tube, in turn, is attached to a carriage within theinstrument and a handle linkage and mechanism which, when operated movesthe carriage and, thereby, the tube forward to contact the two surgicalsteel strips to force them together. When the handle mechanism isrelaxed, the tube is allowed to move rearwardly and the strips thenseparate.

Instruments such as the cartridge injector and microforceps areexpensive and are not easily manufactured to be disposable which meansthat each must be cleaned and sterilized between uses. Because of theirsizes and precise construction they are not easily disassembled tofacilitate sterilization.

Both instruments are commonly used with a surgical procedure known asphacoemulsification in which an incision is made in the eye to remove adamaged or diseased lens by cutting the lens into pieces and thenemulsifying and aspirating the lens particles. Thereafter, a foldableplastic IOL is folded, placed into a cartridge, inserted into acartridge injector which is then operated to force the lens from thecartridge through the incision into the eye as a replacement for thedamaged lens than has already been removed.

The microforceps is used to break the damaged or diseased lens intopieces prior to phacoemulsification. As can be appreciated, theseinstruments are extremely small in size, particularly given the factthat the incision made in the eye is preferably as small as possible toprevent leakage of eye fluid from the wound after surgery. Where suchincisions are sufficiently small, they need not be sutured and will healwithout appreciable leakage.

The problem of satisfactorily sterilizing and cleaning microsurgicalinstruments used in phacoemulsification has been addressed in an articleentitled “Residual Debris as a Potential Cause ofPost-Phacoemulsification Endophthalmitis,” appearing in Eye(Basingstroke), Volume 17, No. 4, published May 2003 and written by T.Leslie, D. A. Aitken, T. Barrie, and C. M. Kirkness. The authorsconducted a study of phacoemulsification instruments that had beensterilized to determine whether debris had been left behind aftertypical sterilization operations. Samples were taken fromphacoemulsification instruments and from irrigation and aspirationinstruments. Two studies were done, each at a different institution.

In the first study, 62 percent of the instruments were found to beclean, 16 percent were found to be moderately contaminated and 22percent were severely contaminated. The second study produced similarresults.

A third study compared instruments that had been cleaned by an automatedflushing system prior to sterilization. Although not completelyeliminating contamination, the technique of flushing prior tosterilization decreased the incidence of contaminated instruments. Theflushing apparatus used was automatic in operation.

The prior art includes examples of attempts to provide means forflushing surgical apparatus prior to sterilization.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,001 (Manni) teaches and describes a single channelscope cleaning method and apparatus used to pump sterilizing solutionthrough instruments used for endoscopy and arthroscopy. The cleaningapparatus is placed concentrically about the exterior surface of theprobe and sterilizing solution is pumped through the cleaning apparatusand through the channel formed between the cleaner and the endoscopicapparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,317 (Bowman) teaches and describes an endoscopiccannulated instrument flushing apparatus for forcing a flushing liquidthrough an endoscopic cannulated instrument for removal of gross debris.The instrument described in Bowman et al has a handle at one end and asurgical tool, such as a pair of gripping arms, at the other. The handleend remains outside the body while the tool end is inserted through anincision and comes into contact with tissue.

The apparatus has a flushing chamber into which the tool end of theinstrument is inserted in a friction fit. Sterilizing flushing fluid isforced into the chamber and through the tool end of the endoscopicinstrument to exit out of the handle end. The flow of the flushingliquid is thus from the tool end to the handle end, pushing any debrisalong the entire length of the instrument, requiring a passage largeenough to allow such debris to travel all the way to the handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,568 (Bowman et al) teaches and describes anendoscopic cannulated instrument flushing apparatus for forcing aflushing liquid through an endoscopic cannulated instrument for removalof gross debris. This patent is a continuation-in-part of the earliermentioned Bowman et al patent and adds a pressurized source of flushingliquid rather than a hand-operated syringe. As with its parent, thecleaning is done in a direction away from the tool end of theinstrument.

None of these references are concerned with microsurgical instruments.

Cartridge injectors have narrow and elongated housings through which aplunger is reciprocated to enter an IOL-holding cartridge and force theIOL out of the cartridge and through an incision into the eye.

Microforceps of the type described herein have pair of surgical steelstrips which are placed in face-to-face relationship and along a portionof which a tubular housing is moved or reciprocated during surgery. Itis this movement along the protruding surgical strips that may trapdebris.

In both cases, the clearance between the outer tubular housing and theplunger or surgical strips is small and any debris trapped therewithinis not only a source for potential infection during a subsequentsurgical procedure, but also a source of friction during surgery betweenmoving parts of the respective instruments. This friction changes the“feel” of the instrument to the surgeon because of the extremely smalloperating field can have a serious effect on the surgery.

The microforceps and cartridge injectors described above arerepresentative of microsurgical instruments which may differ inconstruction from those described herein but which exhibit the sameproblems when it comes to cleaning the instruments to remove surgicaldebris prior to sterilization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present apparatus to provide a simply andeconomically constructed flushing apparatus allowing for thehand-flushing of microsurgical instruments.

It is another object of the present apparatus to provide such apparatusin which the flow of the flushing liquid is toward the operative ordistal portion of the instrument rather than toward the proximal orhandle portion.

It is yet another object of the present apparatus to provide suchapparatus which will flush the microsurgical instrument withoutrequiring the instrument to be significantly disassembled whether or notthe instrument has flushing portals.

Yet another object of the present apparatus is to provide a flushingmechanism which will protect the distal ends of the instrument so thatthey will not be damaged during flushing.

Yet another object of the present apparatus to construct such cleaningapparatus in such a manner in which the actual exit of the flushingliquid can be observed.

While the following describes a preferred embodiment or embodiments ofthe present apparatus, it is to be understood that this description ismade by way of example only and is not intended to limit the scope ofthe present apparatus. It is expected that alterations and furthermodifications, as well as other and further applications of theprinciples of the present apparatus will occur to others skilled in theart to which the apparatus relates and, while differing from theforegoing, remain within the spirit and scope of the apparatus as hereindescribed and claimed. Where means-plus-function clauses are used in theclaims such language is intended to cover the structures describedherein as performing the recited functions and not only structuralequivalents but equivalent structures as well. For the purposes of thepresent disclosure, two structures that perform the same function withinan environment described above may be equivalent structures.

These and further objects and advantages of the present apparatus willbe best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings whichillustrate use of the apparatus in the best mode presently known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing figures illustrate the apparatus describedherein in varying detail and describe details of various embodimentsthereof. Drawing figures are exemplary only and are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art cartridge injector;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a similar prior art injector;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a microforceps;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the instrument of FIG. 3 showing the handlesextended;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the tube of the instrument in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the end portion of the tube of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of detail A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view along 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing attachment of the inlet plug to theinstrument of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the inlet plug used in a secondembodiment of the present apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the outlet plug used in the secondembodiment of the present apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a lateral sectional view of the second embodiment of thepresent apparatus showing the inlet and outlet plugs attached to theflush chamber;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the instrument of FIG. 3 insertedin the flush chamber for cleaning;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail of the outlet plug of FIG. 15 showing theflow of flushing liquid;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an injector with a modified end cap;

FIG. 18 is a lateral sectional view of the end cap attached to theinjector of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an inlet plug;

FIG. 20 is a lateral view of an instrument having mounting groovesformed thereon;

FIG. 21 is a view of the inlet plug of FIG. 19 shown in section andattached to the instrument of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 22 is a partial sectional view of a microsurgical instrument havinga threaded plunger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIG. 1, numeral 10 identifies a cartridge injectorhaving an injector body 12, a plunger 14, a finger grip 16, a handlering 18, a cartridge grip portion 20 and a plunger tip 22. Theinstrument shown in FIG. 1 is intended to typify cartridge injectorswhich may vary in construction from injector to injector but whichgenerally include, the foregoing or similar components.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of an injector similar to thatof FIG. 1 better illustrates the individual components of such aninjector including cylindrical end housing 24. As shown in FIG. 2,plunger tip 22 and plunger 14 are attached one to the other such thatwhen plunger 14 is advanced so is plunger tip 22. As also shown in FIG.2, handle ring 18 is held in a friction fit to knob 26 and can easily beremoved.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the numeral 28 identifies a microsurgicalforceps having right and left handles 30, 32, nose 34, tube grip 36 andtube 38.

Referring now to FIG. 4, handles 30, 32 are shown in greater detail.Handles 30, 32 are shown in their “open” position and can be moved to a“closed” position by squeezing handles 30 and 32 simultaneously.

Also shown in FIG. 4 are right and left links 40, 42 attached,respectively, to handles 30, 32. Links 40, 42 are also attached toslider block 44, partially shown in FIG. 4. Typically, when handles 30,32 are squeezed, linkages 40, 42 and slider block 44 forward move tubegrip 36 forward, thereby moving tube 38 forward.

Referring to FIG. 5, tube 38 is shown in greater detail as are right andleft forceps tips 46, 48. Tip 46 is formed on a spring steel strip 52and is the terminus of strip 52, while forceps tip 48 is formed onspring steel strip 50 and is the terminus of strip 50.

As constructed, strips 50, 52 are biased to separate one from the otherwhen unconstricted. As handles 30, 32 are squeezed and tube 38 is movedforward, strips 50, 52 are pushed one towards another until, when theymeet, tip 46 and 48 form a single unitary tip. Conversely, as handles30, 32 are released, tube 38 is drawn rearward and tips 46, 48 return totheir separated position, thus providing an alternating gripping andrelease action.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an enlarged view of tips 46, 48 are shown aswell as an enlarged portion of strips 50, 52, and illustrating therelationship between strips 50, 52 and tube 38. As seen, strips 50, 52,do not occupy the entire inner space of tube 38, leaving an annular voidvolume within which debris can be trapped as tube 38 is progressivelyadvanced and retracted.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a sectional view is shown of slider block 44showing right and left link blocks 54, 56 which grip tube 38 and, inthis embodiment, are also attached to tube grip 36. Tube 38 is movablealong the distance provided by right and left slots 58, 60. As shownhere schematically, right and left strips 50, 52 extend past sliderblock 44 and are secured within housing 62 by screws 64 as shown in FIG.4.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, there is a void volume indicated by thenumeral 66 comprising a general annular space around strips 50, 52.

Referring to FIG. 8, a view taken at 8-8 of FIG. 2 is shown of cartridgeinjector and housing 24 showing a plunger aperture 68 formedtherethrough through which plunger 14 passes.

A space 70 is created by the difference between the outer diameter ofthe plunger 14 and the inner diameter of the plunger aperture 68.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a first embodiment is shown as a microsurgicalinstrument cleaning apparatus intended for use with injector 10. Asshown, the cleaning apparatus comprises an inlet plug 72 and a tipprotector 74, sized and dimensioned to fit injector 10 as describedbelow.

In FIG. 9, inlet plug 72 and tip protector 74 are shown in spacedrelationship to injector 10 prior to being attached to injector 10.Protector 74 slips onto the cartridge grip portion 20 of injector 10 ina friction fit and is intended to protect plunger tip 22 duringcleaning. Prior to applying inlet plug 72 to injector 10 handle ring 18is removed from knob 26 and will be reinstalled after flushing.

Referring now to FIG. 10, inlet plug 72 is shown as attached to injector10. As seen in FIG. 10, inlet plug 72 is pushed onto end housing 24 in afriction fit and is engaged in a liquid tight seal by O-ring 78. Aseries of plug legs 76 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 help to position inletplug 72 by abutting and contacting finger grip 16. When applied, it canbe seen that plunger 14 and knob 26 are disposed within inlet plug 72.

Because plunger 14 may have to be partially pushed in to fit withininlet plug 72, it is likely that plunger tip 22 will likewise beextended past cartridge holding portion 20 yet will remain within tipprotector 74.

As seen in FIG. 10, inlet plug 72 has an inlet port 80 formed integrallytherewith. In order to effectuate flushing of injector 10. After inletplug 72 has been press-fit to end housing 24, a hand held syringe (notshown) is inserted into port 80 and a flushing liquid is forced from thesyringe through port 80 and through the interior cavity 82 of inlet plug72. The liquid is prevented from exiting inlet plug 72 by O-ring 78 andinstead, is forced through space 70 along the entire length of injector10, exiting about tip 22. In this manner, the flushing liquid contactsany debris held within injector 10 proximate cartridge holding portion22 and forces it out in a direction opposite to that in which the debriswas drawn into injector 10. This avoids the necessity of having to forceboth the flushing liquid and any debris from cartridge holding portion20 through the entire body of injector 10 to exit at tolerance base 70.Thus, debris is flushed out from injector 10 covering the shortestpossible distance and through spaces that are larger than space 70.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a second embodiment of the present apparatusis shown, particularly adapted for use in flushing a microsurgicalforceps such as that shown at numeral 28 of FIG. 3. In FIG. 11, a flushplug 84 is shown having a generally solid thermoplastic body 86 throughwhich a flush channel 88 is formed. Flush channel 88 extends from aninlet port 90 to a flushing portion 92 through which a pair of flushports 94 are formed. In this embodiment, flush ports 94 are circular incross section and are formed at right angles one to the other exitingthe lateral sides of flush portion 92. A fluid outlet 96 is formed atthe terminus 98 of flushing plug 84. Integrally formed with flushingportion 92 is tube grip portion 100 which, in turn, is integrally formedwith tube stop 102 which, in turn, is integrally formed with inlet port90.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a tip protector 104 is shown, having aone-piece, hollow, cylindrical body 106 with a tip inlet 108 formed atone end thereof. An O-ring 110 is disposed within tip inlet 108. As alsoseen in FIG. 12, an observation slot 112 is formed in body 106.Preferably, a pair of observation slots 112 are formed opposite oneanother, as more clearly shown in FIG. 16. As seen in FIG. 12, theprotector 104 has a tube grip portion 114 formed integrally withprotector portion 116.

Referring now to FIG. 13, flush plug 84 and tip protector 104 are shownassembled to a transparent, cylindrical flush tube 118. As seen in FIG.13, flush tube 118 is fluid tightly attached to flush plug 84 at tubegrip portion 100 while protector 104 is fluid tightly attached to flushtube 118 at tube grip portion 114. Fluid tight attachment can beachieved in a friction fit between flushing plug 84, protector 104, andflush tube 118. A fluid tight fit can also be achieved by forming screwthreads along the interior portion along the ends of flush tube 118 withmating screw threads formed on the exterior surfaces of tube gripportions 100, 114, respectively.

As seen in FIG. 13, flushing portion 92 of flush plug 84 is smaller indiameter than tube grip portion 100 leaving a space between the innerwalls of flush tube 118 and flush ports 94.

Use of the second embodiment of the present apparatus as a cleaning toolfor a microsurgical forceps may now be described.

Protector 104 is removed from flush tube 118 and is attached to forceps28. Nose 34 is inserted through tip inlet 108 until it passes throughand is gripped by O-ring 110 in a liquid tight fit. Handles 30, 32 areheld in the open position as shown in FIG. 4, thereby exposing links 40,42 and slider block 44.

Holding protector 104, forceps 28 is then placed within flush tube 118as shown in FIG. 14 until protector 104 engages flush tube 118 in aliquid tight fit. A syringe 120 filled with flushing liquid is attachedvia syringe tip 122 to inlet port 90. As plunger 124 on syringe 120 ispushed flushing liquid enters inlet port 90 and proceeds to fill theinterior of flush tube 118 allowing the flushing liquid to reach sliderblock 44 and, thereby, void volume 66 surrounding strips 50, 52 withintube 38. The flushing liquid is then forced along tube 38 until it exitsin a flush stream 124 as shown in FIG. 16. Flush stream 124 is visiblethrough observation slots 112 and thereby assures the user that flushingliquid is, indeed, being forced through forceps 28.

In this manner, any debris trapped within tube 38 or on tips 50, 52 isflushed away from the interior of forceps 28 rather than toward theinterior thereof. Use of flush tube 118 creates a fluid flow path fromsyringe 120 through annular void volume 66 creating the flushing effect.It would otherwise be virtually impossible to insert any type of syringeor other flushing apparatus to effectively flush tube 28 from theinterior side thereof as opposed to the exterior side.

In FIG. 15, an enlarged view of the assembled apparatus in FIG. 14 isshown more clearly illustrating the open position of handles 30, 32 andthe engagement of nose 34 with protector 104.

Referring now to FIG. 17 the numeral 126 identifies an injector with anend housing 128 having a series of flush channels 130 formedtherethrough. As seen in FIG. 18, channels 130 provide flow passages forflushing liquid forced through inlet 80 into interior cavity 82 andthrough barrel 132 of injector 126. While FIG. 17 shows channels 130arranged in a circular pattern with six channels other numbers andpatterns of channels can be used as desired.

As described hereinabove, inlet plug 72 is secured to end housing 128 ina friction fit after ring 18 is removed from knob 26, and is held in aliquid-tight fit by O-ring 166. Flushing then proceeds as describedabove.

Referring now to FIG. 19 the numeral 134 identifies another embodimentof an inlet plug having an inlet end 136 with an inlet port 138 and ahollow body 140, terminating in a series of mounting fingers 142, 144,146 and 148. Finger 142 is exemplary of the others and will be describedin detail.

Finger 142 is formed integrally with plug 134 and has a latch end 150formed along an interior surface 152. A latch ridge 154 is formed on andtapers upward from surface 152. When a sufficient force is exerted onlatch end 150 finger 142 will flex slightly.

Referring now to FIG. 20, the numeral 156 identifies a portion of theplunger end of a microsurgical instrument constructed in accordance withthe foregoing descriptions. End housing 158 of plunger end 156 hasformed on its surface a series of mounting depressions or grooves suchas shown at 160, 162, formed as shallow depressions in end housing 158.Groove 160 is positioned to register with latch ridge 154 of finger 142and it should be understood that the number and position of each suchgroove is selected to register with one such finger 142, 144, 146 or148. While four such grooves are shown, it should be appreciated thatother numbers and configurations of fingers can be selected. Similarly,the number and position of grooves formed on end housing 158 preferablyregister with said fingers when inlet plug 136 is mounted to end housing158.

Preferably, fingers 142, 144, 146 and 148 of plug 136 engage end housing158 at those portions 164 intermediate grooves 160, 162. Thereafter,inlet plug 134 is rotated to move each finger to register with onegroove, snapping latch ridges such as 154 into each such groove to holdinlet plug 134 firmly to end housing 158. As seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, anO-ring 166 is positioned within inlet plug 134 to provide a liquid-tightcontact with the outer surface of end housing 158 as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 21, inlet plug 134 is shown in section, withfingers 142, 146 engaging, respectively, grooves 160, 168, with latchridges 154, 170 engaging, respectively, grooves 160, 168. O-ring 166 isalso shown gripping the outer surface of end housing 158 to form aliquid-tight seal.

One considerable advantage of forming flush channels 130 such as thoseshown at FIGS. 17 and 18 is to allow flushing liquid to enter amicrosurgical instrument independent of how the plunger is articulatedwith respect to the instrument housing. As an example, in FIG. 18plunger 172 is shown in a friction fit with both the bore 174 of theinstrument and plunger 172 being smooth. In such a configuration, ifenough flush liquid can be forced between the plunger and the bore flushchannels may or may not be required. However, if an increased volume offlush liquid is desired then flush channels 130 will provide additionalflow capacity.

In FIGS. 20 and 21, plunger 176 has an internally-mounted spring 178which is compressed when plunger 176 is pushed into instrument 180 andwhich, when released, moves plunger 176 out from instrument 180. Wheneither inlet plug 72 or 134 is used with such a plunger, spring 178 isdisposed within interior cavity 82 and will be contacted by and cleanedwith the flush liquid entering via inlet port 80 or 138.

Referring now to FIG. 22, plunger 182 has screw threads formed along itslength and is rotated through a threaded opening 184 in end housing 186.For such a construction the increased difficulty of forcing flushingliquid past such screw threads makes the presence of flush channels 130extremely advantageous to allow the flushing liquid to enter theinstrument. Thus, no matter how the plunger is fitted to the instrument,the presence of flush channels 130 allows flushing liquid to enter andclean the instrument as described above.

Referring again to FIG. 17 the numeral 188 identifies an end plug shapedand configured to engage barrel 132 in a friction fit. End plug 188 actsas a protective sheath for the instrument when it is being flushed andto protect the user from coming into contact with any sharp cuttingsurface carried by the instrument.

While the foregoing has described a hand-held syringe as a preferredsource for the flushing liquid, other sources can be used as well. Oneexample is a fluid reservoir having an outlet tube or conduit adapted tobe attached to the inlet ports described above. A manual or powered pumpor other liquid motive device may then be used to force the liquid fromthe reservoir to the inlet port. The reservoir may also be elevated andgravity may be used as a feed to move the liquid.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for cleaning a surgical instrument,said instrument having a body with a proximal end and a distal end, aninternal passageway having an outlet at said instrument body distal end,and a tip at said body distal end for contacting a patient, saidapparatus comprising: a hollow chamber extending between proximal anddistal ends, said chamber proximal end having a flushing liquid inletport; and a tip protector attachable to said chamber distal end, saidtip protector having at least a first seal adapted to provide aliquid-tight fit around said instrument distal end with said instrumentsubstantially within said chamber, wherein with the tip protectorassembled with the hollow chamber said tip of said instrument extendsthrough a portion of said tip protector; whereby a flushing liquidinjected into said inlet port enters said chamber adjacent saidinstrument proximal end, said flushing liquid passes through saidchamber and said instrument internal passageway, and said flushingliquid exits said instrument body distal end through said outlet of saidinstrument internal passageway whereby a contaminant in said instrumentis flushed in a direction away from said instrument proximal end and outof said instrument internal passageway outlet, wherein said tipprotector has at least one observation window therein, wherein saidflushing liquid exiting said instrument tip is visible through saidobservation window.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chamberextends axially between said chamber proximate and distal ends, and saidflushing liquid inlet port directs said flush liquid axially into saidchamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least oneobservation window has the form of a slot.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said tip protector is threadably attached to said chamber distalend.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sealing means atsaid chamber proximal end, said sealing means for creating a liquidtight seal at said flushing liquid inlet port.
 6. The apparatus of claim5, wherein said sealing means is a plug.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein said plug has at least one aperture permitting said flushingliquid to enter said chamber.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, furthercomprising at least one flush port extending radially within said plugand in communication with said at least one aperture, whereby said atleast one flush port permits said flushing liquid to enter said chamberin a radial direction.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said sealingmeans is a threaded connection between said chamber proximal end and aflushing liquid source.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein saidflushing liquid source is a hand-held syringe.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said chamber is cylindrical.
 12. An apparatus forcleaning a surgical instrument, said instrument having a body with aproximal end and a distal end, an internal passageway having an outletat said instrument body distal end, and a tip at said body distal endfor contacting a patient, said apparatus comprising: a hollow chamberextending between proximal and distal ends, said chamber proximal endhaving a flushing liquid inlet port; and a tip protector attachable tosaid chamber distal end, said tip protector having at least a first sealadapted to provide a liquid-tight fit around said instrument distal endwith said instrument substantially within said chamber, wherein with thetip protector assembled with the hollow chamber said tip of saidinstrument extends through a portion of said tip protector; whereby aflushing liquid injected into said inlet port enters said chamberadjacent said instrument proximal end, said flushing liquid passesthrough said chamber and said instrument internal passageway, and saidflushing liquid exits said instrument body distal end through saidoutlet of said instrument internal passageway whereby a contaminant insaid instrument is flushed in a direction away from said instrumentproximal end and out of said instrument internal passageway outlet,wherein said tip protector further comprises a second seal, said secondseal providing a liquid-tight fit between said chamber distal end andsaid tip protector, and at least one observation window in said tipprotector, wherein said flushing liquid exiting said instrument tip isvisible through said observation window.